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Mobile phone plan for Crossrail could be rolled out across the Tube

Commuters will soon be able to use their mobile phones on trains and in tunnels on the new Crossrail rail link under plans being drawn up by TfL.

Bosses are looking at ways to introduce the technology despite a survey last week which found that passengers taking loud phone calls was the most annoying trait on public transport in London.

Graeme Craig, TfL’s head of commercial development, told the Standard: “At some point we will introduce communications below ground.

“At the moment we are struggling with the commercial business case for it because it’s an expensive thing to do and it’s obvious people wouldn’t pay any more in order to be able to assess data underground.

“But at the moment we’re thinking of it from a Crossrail point of view in particular and how can we ensure you have access to data underground, seeing as it’s a new train system.”

He added that if successful on Crossrail the service could be rolled out across the entire tube network.

“Then we’ll look how can we apply any lessons we learn from that onto the underground, DLR and London Overground. The costs would be prohibitive to introduce it now.”

The new £15 billion Crossrail line will be opened in 2018 and with the ability to make and receive mobile calls, it would mean London’s newest transport project would have caught up with several major cities which already have the technology.

Passengers in Glasgow and Newcastle can already use their phones on each city’s tube system, while overseas similar systems exist in Paris and Rome.

London Underground has installed wifi systems at more than 100 stations, allowing travellers to check emails and surf the net on their phones, but only at stations and not in tunnels.

It has been suggested that deep tunnel lines including the Northern and Central lines would be unable to install technology due to the narrowness of the tunnels, however, subterranean ones like the Circle and District lines have bigger tunnels.

A report last year by London Assembly Member Gareth Bacon, launched a report Calling All Stations, where he urged tube bosses to install more technology on the system.

The report said mobile connectivity is no longer a simple convenience, but a requirement for a growth-driven and competitive modern city.

However, a survey last Friday by YouGov found that one of the most annoying habits for customers on buses and above-ground trains was fellow passengers making loud phone calls.

The No1 commuting “hate” was having to stand or sit next to a smelly person on the Tube, bus or train, followed closely by people who cough and sneeze but fail to cover their mouth.

Craig is also keen to introduce more technology changes to the tube system, including allowing commuters to order their morning coffee from their train and have it waiting at their destination when they arrive.